(LEAD) New defense minister urges N. Korea to halt border-hardening following DMZ explosion

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(ATTN: ADDS more of Kang's remarks in paras 15-20, last 3 paras) By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- New Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul urged North Korea on Tuesday to cease its border-hardening measures along the inter-Korean border, vowing that South Korea will not tip-toe around Pyongyang's actions.

Kang made the remarks during a press availability following his inauguration, after a suspected landmine blast south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) on the western inter-Korean border injured three South Korean military officers Monday.

An investigation is under way to determine the exact cause of the blast, but speculation is growing that it may have been triggered by a landmine illegally planted by the North on the South Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

"(North Korea) must cease its border fortification. Of course, we need to speak out," Kang said, when asked about the explosion.

"There are secondary effects that stem from North Korea's border-hardening, and this (explosion) could be one of them," he said.

Newly appointed Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul (C) delivers his inauguration speech during a ceremony at the defense ministry in Yongsan, Seoul, on Sept. 22, 2026. (Yonhap)

Kang said he "agrees," when asked whether he would issue a firm warning to Pyongyang about its fencing and mine-laying activities in his new capacity.

"You keep bringing up that we walk on eggshells when it comes to North Korea, but we do not," he said. "I explicitly stated that the North's military is our enemy (during my confirmation hearing)."

Kang also revealed that the South's military has yet to confirm whether the suspected mine blast occurred at a site where North Korea is suspected of illegally laying mines across the border.

"Frankly, what is at issue is whether the minefield area you are referring to, the patrol route our personnel had entered and the exact site of the explosion all match up," Kang told reporters.

"The problem is that we cannot confirm this at this point. That is precisely what the investigation must determine," he said.

Kang noted that the military has not yet obtained clear footage of the explosion site, citing difficult terrain within the buffer zone hindering visibility.

"Ideally, we would rely on the memory of the personnel involved and could ask them directly where they entered, but the current situation obviously makes that difficult," he said. "As of now, nothing is clearly visible and it remains difficult to confirm that these three locations align."

The explosion occurred inside the DMZ, a buffer zone covering the MDL separating the two Koreas, severely injuring the commander of an Army battalion unit, while another officer sustained a leg fracture. A third officer was also injured, though less severely.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said during a press briefing Tuesday that the officers were clearing a path for an upcoming U.N. Command (UNC) field inspection to examine sites on the southern side of the DMZ where North Korean troops are suspected of planting mines in potential violation of the armistice agreement.

Kang, a former deputy commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), reiterated the importance of "mutual trust" with the United States regarding the ongoing transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul.

"An alliance, by its very nature, involves a counterpart, which means it may not always go according to one side's wishes," he said. "What is more important than the conditions (for the OPCON transfer) is mutual trust (between Korea and the U.S.)."

Kang described the technical conditions for the OPCON transition as the "science" that may already have been met, but noted that satisfaction with meeting those conditions depends on the "art," suggesting political consultations.

"These aspects are vital, which is why I place an emphasis on trust," he added.

Kang suggested he may plan a visit to Washington even before the upcoming ministerial defense dialogue, likely scheduled for early November.

"We are taking all of these factors into account," he said. "In-person meetings aren't the only way to communicate, but I could make a trip to the U.S. if necessary. We will need to coordinate various details."

New Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul (C) pays respects to fallen soldiers during a visit to Seoul National Cemetery in the capital city, on Sept. 22, 2026, the first day of taking office, in this photo provided by the defense ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Kang, a retired four-star Army general, was nominated by President Lee Jae Myung on Aug. 30.

Kang began his official schedule as minister by visiting Seoul National Cemetery earlier in the day to pay respects to fallen soldiers.

Kang later presided over his first meeting with top military commanders, including the chiefs of the armed forces.

Kang called for a "firm response" to enemy provocations as he addressed the recent explosion in the DMZ area, instructing the military to focus "relentlessly" on tough training to "win in competition," according to the defense ministry.

He also ordered the military to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the suspected mine blast while keeping "all possibilities open," calling on the military to stand ready to take any necessary measures based on the findings.

elly@yna.co.kr (END)

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这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

（注：第15-20段及最后3段补充了康的更多评论）金承妍

首尔，9月22日（韩联社）——韩国新任国防部长姜信哲周二敦促朝鲜停止在朝韩边境采取的边境强化措施，并誓言韩国不会对平壤的行动视而不见。

康在就职后的新闻发布会上发表了上述言论。此前，周一在朝韩西部边境军事分界线（MDL）以南发生的一起疑似地雷爆炸事件导致三名韩国军官受伤。

目前正在进行调查以确定爆炸的确切原因，但越来越多的人猜测，爆炸可能是由朝鲜在非军事区（DMZ）韩国一侧非法埋设的地雷引发的。

“（朝鲜）必须停止修建边境防御工事。当然，我们需要发声，”康在被问及爆炸事件时说道。

他说：“朝鲜加强边境管控会产生一些次生影响，这次（爆炸）可能就是其中之一。”

2026年9月22日，新任国防部长姜信哲（中）在首尔龙山国防部举行的就职典礼上发表就职演说。（韩联社）

当被问及是否会以新身份向平壤发出关于其修建围栏和布雷活动的严厉警告时，康表示“同意”。

“你一直说我们在朝鲜问题上如履薄冰，但事实并非如此，”他说。“（在我的任命听证会上）我明确表示，朝鲜军队是我们的敌人。”

康还透露，韩国军方尚未证实疑似地雷爆炸是否发生在朝鲜被怀疑非法越境埋设地雷的地点。

康告诉记者：“坦白说，问题在于你提到的雷区区域、我们人员进入的巡逻路线以及爆炸的确切地点是否吻合。”

“问题是我们目前还无法证实这一点。这正是调查需要确定的问题，”他说。

康指出，军方尚未获得爆炸现场的清晰影像，理由是缓冲区内地形复杂，阻碍了视线。

“理想情况下，我们会依靠相关人员的记忆，直接询问他们从哪里进入，但目前的情况显然使这变得困难，”他说。“截至目前，没有任何清晰的线索，仍然难以确认这三个地点是否一致。”

爆炸发生在非军事区内，该缓冲区覆盖了分隔朝韩两国的军事分界线。爆炸导致一名陆军营长重伤，另一名军官腿部骨折。第三名军官也受了伤，但伤势较轻。

联合参谋本部（JCS）周二在新闻发布会上表示，军官们正在为即将进行的联合国军司令部（UNC）实地视察扫清障碍，以检查非军事区南侧的地点，朝鲜军队被怀疑在这些地点埋设地雷，可能违反了停战协定。

曾任韩国-美国联合部队司令部（CFC）副司令的康重申了与美国在战时作战控制权（OPCON）从华盛顿向首尔过渡过程中“相互信任”的重要性。

他说：“联盟的本质决定了它需要一方作为对立面，这意味着它未必总能按照一方的意愿发展。比作战指挥权移交的条件更重要的是（韩美之间的）互信。”

康将 OPCON 过渡的技术条件描述为可能已经满足的“科学”，但他指出，对这些条件的满足程度取决于“艺术”，暗示需要进行政治磋商。

“这些方面至关重要，所以我非常重视信任，”他补充道。

康表示，他甚至可能在即将于11月初举行的防务部长级对话之前就计划访问华盛顿。

他说：“我们正在考虑所有这些因素。面对面会谈并非唯一的沟通方式，但如有必要，我可以前往美国。我们需要协调各种细节。”

2026年9月22日，新任国防部长姜信哲（中）就职首日，前往首尔国立公墓祭奠阵亡将士。此照片由韩国国防部提供。（照片非卖品）（韩联社）

康某是一位退役的四星陆军上将，于8月30日被李在明总统提名。

康元杰以部长身份正式上任，当天早些时候前往首尔国立公墓向阵亡将士致敬。

康德治随后主持召开了与高级军事指挥官（包括各军种总司令）的第一次会议。

据国防部消息，康在谈到最近非军事区发生的爆炸事件时，呼吁对敌方挑衅做出“坚决回应”，并指示军队“毫不松懈”地集中精力进行艰苦训练，以“在竞争中取胜”。

他还命令军方进行彻底调查，以确定疑似地雷爆炸的确切原因，同时“不排除任何可能性”，并呼吁军方随时准备根据调查结果采取任何必要措施。

elly@yna.co.kr（完）

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